It seems the tougher the challenge on tour, the more Stephanie Meadow rises to it but after pulling off her latest great escape at the Pelican Women’s Championship, the proud LPGA member is determined to ensure it’s smooth sailing from here.
The 29-year old retained her card with nothing to spare on Sunday, grinding out a final round 70 for a tied 47th finish. It was a moving day 66 that set up the clutch showing and it proved just enough to capture 100th place on the Race to CME Globe with the top-100 earning full playing privileges next year.
“I’m proud of how I competed,” Meadow told Independent.ie. “It wasn’t easy and it was a lot of stress but I’ve got to feed off it now because I’m at the point where I’ve been through it twice, and I never want to be in that position ever again.”
Indeed in 2019, Meadow pulled it out of the fire with a miraculous finish. That time it was at the Volunteers of America Classic with Meadow needing a top-7 showing to retain her card. Standing on the 17 tee, the Jordanstown pro was very much up against it but cometh the hour, cometh Meadow who nailed two clutch birdies when she needed them most at the final two holes to tie sixth.
Meadow didn’t have to go quite as low this time around but the pressure was no easier. Playing for your living will do that to you and after putting herself through the wringer twice in three years, it’s no wonder the Northern Irishwoman is gunning to avoid a similar fate next season.
“After everything I’ve learned the last two years, I’d really like to get off to a better start to the season,” Meadow added. “Once you go through something like that twice, I’m not sure I could survive it a third time.
“I want to make sure I’m out there competing and maybe that’s the kick in the ass I needed. It’s definitely given me some motivation because it wasn’t much fun.”
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